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• The deal, partially funded through the U.S. BEAD program, will bring fast, secure, and reliable connectivity to underserved communities in southeast Georgia.
• Nokia’s Lightspan MF-2 platform, optical network terminals, BABA-compliant PON optics, and Altiplano Access Controller with Corteca software will serve as the basis of Planters’ fiber network.
• Implementation of the scalable fiber network will enable Planters to expand its footprint to more rural communities, as the area’s leading regional broadband provider.
This latest win reinforces Nokia’s role as a trusted partner for U.S. regional broadband providers looking to expand fiber networks faster and more efficiently for communities, businesses, and public services. Nokia is helping operators such as Planters overcome the cost, complexity, and compliance challenges of rural broadband expansion from scaling capacity and reducing operational burden to meeting U.S. Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) and Build America, Buy America (BABA) requirements while building networks that are more automated, adaptive, and ready for future AI-era demand.
This fiber optic deployment supports BEAD-funded rural broadband expansion in Georgia and provides Planters with the ability to offer multi-gigabit broadband services and advanced in-home Wi-Fi services.
"This project allows us to bring scalable, high-speed, reliable connectivity to underserved communities in Georgia. With Nokia and KGP, we can deliver multi-gigabit broadband and advanced in-home Wi-Fi to more residents and businesses. Building with top-tier infrastructure future-proofs our network and positions Planters for sustainable growth."
Stephen Milner, CEO, Planters Broadband Cooperative
Nokia’s scalable Lightspan MF-2 access platform supports 10G, 25G and 50G broadband speeds, enabling Planters to efficiently scale their network in the future. Planters also gains lower operational complexity with Nokia’s Altiplano Access Controller which enables AI-driven automation providing a powerful platform to reduce errors, accelerate issue resolution and streamline network operations.
With BEAD and BABA-compliant products from Nokia, Planters is able to accelerate project execution, meet compliance requirements, and quickly deliver high-speed broadband services to southeast Georgia’s unconnected or underserved businesses and residents.
"KGPCo is proud to partner with Nokia and Planters to bring Nokia's future-ready fiber access network to another underserved region. By providing immediate access to BABA-certified products from Nokia through our joint stocking agreement, we’re giving operators the tools they need to fast-track procurement, avoid costly delays, and connect communities faster."
Joe Baeumel, VP, Business Development and Partner Strategy, KGPCo
Southeast Georgia is experiencing significant growth in broadband connectivity as providers continue to invest in infrastructure across the region. Planters has been a leader in rural fiber development, expanding fiber access throughout portions of Screven, Effingham, Jenkins, and Burke Counties, with plans to further extend connectivity to the communities it serves. Georgia’s BEAD program represents another important opportunity to build on this progress by supporting expanded broadband infrastructure in areas where additional investment is needed. Selected providers, including Planters, are now moving forward with implementation and construction planning that will help bring reliable, high-speed connectivity to even more homes, businesses, and communities across the region.
"High-quality broadband is an essential part of how people access opportunity and advancing connectivity to secure a more connected world is central to Nokia's mission. Our collaboration with KGPCo ensures BEAD deployments with rural broadband operators like Planters have seamless access to our certified technology. Together, we’re accelerating network builds, and helping close the digital divide faster. This deployment will support critical infrastructure connecting underserved, rural communities in southeast Georgia."
Matt Young, VP, North American Sales, Nokia
KGPCo, a long-standing partner of Nokia, is North America’s largest supply chain logistics supplier and systems integrator to MSOs, ISPs, communications service providers, state and local municipalities, electric coops, and tribal nations.
Nokia has a deep commitment to closing the digital divide in rural America. With its network scale and expertise, Nokia provides 6 out of 10 ports in the US that are used in rural broadband deployments. Nokia's portfolio is fully compliant with BABA requirements, making it a trusted choice for BEAD projects. Nokia has helped telecommunication providers across the United States deliver high-quality broadband to underserved communities, creating new growth opportunities for the regions they serve.
About Nokia
Nokia (nokia.com) is a global leader in connectivity infrastructure powering the AI supercycle. We create the networks that connect intelligence, combining a complete connectivity view across fixed, mobile, IP, optical, core and data center networks. Through secure-by-design, AI-native innovation, Nokia delivers the trusted infrastructure that makes AI work at scale and advances connectivity to secure a brighter world.
About Planters Broadband
Planters Broadband (planters.net) is proud to provide a full array of quality telecommunications services, at affordable prices, to residences and businesses in its rural communities in Southeast Georgia.
About KGPCo
KGPCo (kgpco.com) is North America’s largest supply chain logistics supplier and systems integrator to communications service providers, MSOs, state and local enterprises and utilities. KGPCo provides the products and solutions needed for every type of network build, customized to meet specific needs at scale, including the passive OSP materials and active electronics required to build and maintain networks.
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